Countries Where it is Easiest to Obtain a Residence Permit

Obtaining a residence permit in another country is an effective way to access foreign markets. This applies not only to real estate, but also to opportunities to study or work abroad. In recent years, residence permits have also become attractive to remote workers and digital nomads who can perform their jobs while living in another country.

For the host countries themselves, issuing residence permits is also beneficial. They introduce or adapt programs for people who work outside the local labor market or live on passive income, solving two tasks at once: attracting capital and avoiding competition for local jobs.

Over time, however, many programs have become more restrictive, and obtaining a residence permit is no longer always straightforward. For this reason, we have compiled a ranking of countries where, on average, obtaining a residence permit requires less effort, time, and resources compared to other destinations.

Top Countries Where It Is Easiest to Obtain a Residence Permit

To avoid turning this material into a collection of personal impressions, we compare countries using the same verifiable criteria. We assess financial requirements and applicant criteria, the list of required documents, and the overall processing time.

Armenia

Armenia is one of the few countries where obtaining a residence permit is still regulated primarily by formal rules, without additional filters such as language exams, integration tests, or minimum income requirements. Armenia is often used as a first country for obtaining legal status outside one’s home jurisdiction, especially when a fast and low-cost residence permit is needed without any connection to the EU.

An Armenian residence permit is most often chosen by:

• salaried employees, including those working for small companies;
• entrepreneurs and self-employed individuals who need a legal presence;
• freelancers who require a formal resident status but do not need access to the European market;
• families applying for residence permits for several members at once.

The most common and simplest option is a temporary residence permit. It is issued if at least one legal ground is present:

• official employment;
• conducting business or holding a stake in a company;
• education;
• family ties with citizens or residents of Armenia.

A temporary residence permit is issued for up to one year. Extensions follow the same logic as the initial application. If the legal ground remains valid, refusals on formal grounds are extremely rare.

State fees are fixed and do not depend on the applicant’s nationality:

• temporary residence permit for one year: $270;
• extension of a temporary residence permit: $270;
• permanent residence permit for five years: $360.

The basic document package includes:

• a valid international passport;
• a notarized translation of the passport;
• proof of the legal ground for residence;
• a medical certificate;
• confirmation of payment of the state fee.

It is essential to note that applicants are not required to know the Armenian language. The same applies to education level, work experience, or minimum income requirements. However, the residence permit is strictly tied to its legal ground, and if that ground is lost, the permit is revoked.

Serbia

The main and most popular route is a temporary residence permit based on entrepreneurial activity. In practice, this usually involves registering as a sole proprietor or establishing a limited liability company. The law does not set minimum turnover, profit, or fixed income thresholds for the initial application. As a result, the key requirement is the factual existence of the business and its formal operation.

Residence permits in Serbia are generally issued for up to one year with the right of annual renewal. Renewal is directly tied to maintaining the legal ground, meaning the company must remain active.

By law, the processing time is up to 30 days from the submission of a complete document package. In practice, when applications are prepared correctly, decisions are often made faster, especially in Belgrade and other major administrative centers.

The financial side of the procedure is as follows:

• registration of a sole proprietorship or company costs on average $150–300, depending on the legal form;
• the state fee for issuing a residence permit is $100–150;
• issuance of the residence card and administrative fees require an additional $50–70.

The document package is structurally simple and standard. Typically required are a valid international passport, proof of the legal ground such as business registration or an employment contract, proof of address, medical insurance, and payment receipts. There are no requirements to know the Serbian language or to confirm education or professional experience. At the same time, it is important to consider the limitations. Serbia is not an EU member state and does not provide freedom of movement within the Schengen Area.

Dominican Republic

The primary residence option in the Dominican Republic is a temporary residence permit known as Residencia Temporal. The process begins with obtaining a resident visa of category RS. After entry on this visa, the applicant submits documents for the temporary residence permit within the country.

The law does not establish a fixed monthly income threshold or a mandatory level of savings. Only basic financial solvency is assessed, based on reasonable judgment rather than formalized figures.

A temporary residence permit is issued for one year with the possibility of renewal. After several years of residence, permanent residence can be requested. Requirements for physical presence are relatively lenient. It is sufficient to enter the country at least occasionally in order to renew documents.

Financial costs in the Dominican Republic are as follows:

• resident visa: typically $120–150;
• issuance of a temporary residence permit and resident card: on average $250–350;
• medical examinations and certificates: approximately $100–150.

The document package includes a passport, birth certificate, police clearance certificate, medical examination results, photographs, and a residence application form. Documents issued abroad must be apostilled and translated into Spanish. Knowledge of Spanish, completion of courses, exams, or interviews is not required.

Portugal

Although Portugal has a relatively cumbersome bureaucracy, it appears in rankings due to the wide range of options for obtaining legal residence. Two routes stand out in particular: the D7 for passive income and the D8 for remote work, also known as the digital nomad visa.

The requirements are as follows:

D7 residence permit based on passive income. The applicant must prove the legal origin of funds and an income of at least €920 per month for a single applicant. For each additional family member, 50 percent of the base amount is added, and 30 percent for a child. In addition, the applicant must hold savings sufficient to cover at least one year of expenses, approximately €11,040.

D8 residence permit for digital nomads. This option requires a minimum average monthly income of €3280–3480, linked to four times the Portuguese minimum wage, from sources outside Portugal. Additional funds for family members are calculated in the same way as under the D7 scheme, with 50 percent for a spouse and 30 percent for a child.

Both options also require the applicant to be over 18 years old, have medical insurance, a clean criminal record, and proof of accommodation in Portugal such as a lease agreement or address confirmation. The consular fee for a national D visa is €110.

Document requirements include:

• an international passport;
• application form and photographs;
• proof of accommodation in Portugal, either rental or other lodging;
• proof of financial means, including bank statements and income documents;
• a police clearance certificate, usually from the country of residence;
• medical insurance covering the period until issuance of the residence card;
• receipts confirming payment of consular fees and visa center service fees if applying through VFS.

Since 2023, the Portuguese immigration system has been under significant strain. While delays at the visa application stage are less common, substantial delays almost inevitably occur during the issuance of the residence card after entry. According to industry reviews of AIMA operations, the overall processing cycle for certain residence categories can extend from 6 to 18 months depending on the category and workload. After biometrics, issuance of the residence card often takes several additional months.

Paraguay

Paraguay is often overlooked compared to other South American countries. In contrast, it is considered one of the most stable jurisdictions in the region, both economically and politically. Unlike most countries, Paraguay grants permanent residence directly rather than issuing a temporary residence permit first.

Applicant requirements:

• legal adulthood;
• no criminal record;
• completion of medical examinations.

Paraguay does not set a formal minimum income or investment threshold. Instead, the applicant must open a mandatory deposit in a local state-owned bank in the amount of at least $5000. This deposit is refundable and serves as proof of financial solvency.

Non-refundable expenses include state fees, document processing, medical examinations, and certificates, totaling approximately $400–650. There are no language, professional, or educational requirements.

To apply for permanent residence, the following documents are typically required:

• a valid international passport;
• a birth certificate;
• a police clearance certificate from the country of citizenship;
• a police clearance certificate from the country of last residence;
• medical certificates issued in Paraguay;
• proof of deposit placement;
• photographs in the required format;
• migration authority application forms.

The application procedure takes place inside the country, making personal presence mandatory. In the event of documentation errors, applications are not rejected immediately; applicants are usually given time to submit missing items.

Greece

The most widely used migration route in Greece is the residence permit for financially independent persons. It does not require an employment contract, business activity, or investment in the national economy. As a result, it is well suited for individuals with stable passive or foreign-sourced income who do not intend to seek employment on the local labor market.

Key requirement is minimum income of €2000 per month for the main applicant, plus 20 percent for a spouse and 15 percent for each child.

Only passive income sources are permitted, including pensions, rental income, dividends, interest, annuities, trusts, and fixed payments from a business without operational involvement. Remote work, freelancing, active business operations, and any form of employment are not acceptable, even if the income significantly exceeds the stated threshold.

A lease agreement or proof of property ownership in Greece is also required.

The residence permit is issued for two years and then renewed every three years. To avoid cancellation of the status, actual residence in the country is required. However, the law does not establish a formal minimum number of days of physical presence.

To apply for a residence permit, the following documents are usually required:

• an international passport;
• a national visa of category D;
• proof of income, such as bank statements, contracts, or pension documents;
• proof of residence in Greece, including long-term rental or property ownership;
• medical insurance valid in Greece;
• a police clearance certificate;
• photographs in the required format;
• receipts confirming payment of state fees.

The state fee for issuing the residence permit is €1000 for the main applicant. The electronic biometric card costs an additional €16. If applying through a consulate, an extra €75–90 is payable.

Additional costs may include document translation, apostille, legal assistance, insurance, and medical examinations. In total, these expenses typically add €200–800 to the final cost.

United Arab Emirates

In the UAE, there are three main pathways to obtaining residence status: business registration, remote work for a foreign company, or employment with a local employer. In all cases, residency is tied to an underlying activity rather than to physical residence in the country.

For business migration, the legal basis is a registered company or a license issued by a free economic zone. There are no minimum personal income requirements; the key condition is that the license remains active and fully paid.

Migration through remote work for a foreign company requires a monthly income of at least $3500 and a valid employment contract with an employer located outside the UAE.

Residence through a local employer is granted on the basis of an employment contract with a UAE company and is fully sponsored by the employer. The residence permit is terminated if the employment contract is ended.

Residence permits are generally issued for two years and, in some zones, for three years. Renewal follows the same procedure as the initial application, provided the legal ground remains in place. The concept of permanent residence in the classical European sense does not exist in the UAE.

General requirements:

• a valid international passport;
• confirmed legal grounds for residency;
• medical examination conducted in the UAE;
• biometric registration and issuance of an Emirates ID.

The base cost of processing, including visa fees, Emirates ID, and medical procedures, ranges from $2600 to $5500 depending on the selected route. For remote work, government fees are lower, typically $600–1000.

The residency status is fully functional. It allows the holder to open bank accounts, rent housing, obtain telecommunications services, register companies, and legally reside in the country. At the same time, it is entirely dependent on the underlying ground and does not provide an automatic transition to long-term or permanent status.

Bulgaria

In Bulgaria, one of the formally simplest ways to obtain a residence permit is through investment-based residency. The legislation provides several investment options; however, in practice, the most commonly used route is the basic option with a fixed financial threshold that does not involve entrepreneurial activity.

The procedure follows the standard structure of Bulgarian migration law. First, a national visa of category D is obtained, followed by submission of a residence permit application within the country. The initial residence permit is issued for one year with subsequent annual renewals. Oversight by migration authorities is focused primarily at the renewal stage.

Investment parameters of the program:

• minimum investment amount of approximately €512,000;
• investment placed in government bonds or other state-approved financial instruments;
• funds must remain invested for the entire duration of the residence permit;
• early withdrawal of capital automatically removes the legal basis for renewal.

Although the investment is considered refundable, in practice it is frozen for the entire period of residence in the country. In addition, the applicant must demonstrate basic financial solvency through:

• sufficient funds for living expenses, approximately €3000–5000;
• valid medical insurance;
• confirmed address of residence in Bulgaria, either rental or ownership;
• lawful origin of all funds, including the investment capital.

Bulgaria does not impose a mandatory 183-day annual residence requirement and allows minimal physical presence, provided the applicant enters the country at least a few times per year.

Applicant requirements:

• an international passport;
• a national visa of category D;
• documents confirming the investment;
• a police clearance certificate;
• proof of accommodation;
• medical insurance;
• receipts confirming payment of fees.

This residence permit automatically grants the right to short-term travel within the Schengen Area without obtaining a separate visa. Stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period are permitted in total across all Schengen countries. Travel is allowed exclusively for tourism, business, or private purposes.

Hungary

The most common route to obtaining a Hungarian residence permit is company registration (Kft) or registration as a sole proprietor. The law does not establish minimum turnover, profit, or fixed income requirements at the initial application stage. The key factor is the actual existence of the business and its formal operation.

The initial residence permit is issued for one year. Renewal takes place annually, provided the legal ground remains valid. Both the application and renewal are processed within the country. The main focus of the migration authorities is on the renewal stage. It is at this point that the authorities assess the substance of the business, the validity of an employment contract, or the relevance of another declared basis.

Financial parameters:

• company registration (Kft): €300–600;
• minimum share capital: €7,700, with the funds remaining within the company;
• state fee for the residence permit: €110–150;
• residence card and administrative fees: €30–50.

Document requirements:

• a valid international passport;
• residence permit application form;
• proof of the legal ground, such as company registration or an employment contract;
• proof of residential address;
• medical insurance;
• proof of financial means;
• police clearance certificate for the initial application;
• receipts confirming payment of state fees;
• biometric data.

Hungarian law does not impose a formal requirement to reside in the country for 183 days per year in order to maintain residence status. However, an actual connection to the country is expected. Prolonged absence without a reasonable explanation may raise questions at the renewal stage. When applying for permanent residence or citizenship, actual residence is taken into account.

Permanent residence becomes possible after five years of legal residence in the country. Citizenship may be obtained after eight years of residence, subject to general conditions. Business- or employment-based residence permits do not shorten these timeframes and are assessed under standard rules.

A Hungarian residence permit allows short-term travel within the Schengen Area without obtaining a separate visa, for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. The right to reside and work is retained exclusively within Hungary.